Manteca has two under-utilized baseball fields.

That’s based on an assessment made by a consultant that updated the city’s initial parks and recreation master plan adopted in 2016.

One is Morezone Field on Center Street west of Union Road.

The other is behind the swimming pool and playground area at Marion Elliott Park (formerly Lincoln Park) on Powers Avenue across from the fire station.

The proposed master plan going before the City Council for approval when they meet on Tuesday at 6 p.m. notes Morezone Field could be converted into an event center.

As for the Marion Elliott Park baseball field, it could be switched out for 12 lighted pickleball courts.

The master plan update covers new park sites and recreation facilities as well as refurbishing existing community parks.

The needs were based on the assumption Manteca will have 206,882 residents when 2040 rolls around as opposed to 96,000 residents today.

That would require an additional 579 acres of parks and recreation facility locations.

Overall, that would give the city 1,039 acres dedicated to parks and recreational pursuits.

Toss in the municipal golf course, and the city would be closing in on two square miles of parkland.

The construction cost and land acquisition is an eye-popping $930.5 million.

The $196.6 million for needed neighborhood parks would be paid for by developers.

And the maintenance costs of those neighborhood parks will be assessed via community facilities district fees on homeowners in houses that were built in a subdivision with a require park.

A new community park
plus Woodward upgrades

The master plan calls for a new community park of 80 acres, likely to go north of Lathrop Road.

Woodward Community Park, for comparison, is 50 acres.

It carries a three-phase price tag of $141 million.

A large portion of the new community park would be programmed for a new lighted soccer facility large enough to host local and regional soccer tournaments.

 The fields will be a mix of natural and synthetic turf fields to ensure all weather functionality. The natural turf soccer fields will also need to be designed to accommodate a regional drainage basin.

Altogether, there would be 13 high school regulation fields.

An outdoor event space and amphitheater would also be part of the park. The amphitheater would include seating for community-scale events, lighting, and sound, with an adjacent open space large enough for regional events of 20,000 people, with permanent seating for 1,000.

This event lawn would be flanked by an arboretum and open space.

 This park would also include a 4-court indoor gym, 12 pickleball courts, four playgrounds and three picnic shelters, restrooms, outdoor fitness equipment, hardcourts for tennis, trails, and parking for 1,029 cars

The plan calls for eight lighted tennis courts near the southwest corner of the main driveway to the parking lot off of Woodward Avenue.

There also would be new parking.

The city is in the processing of building a splash pad at Woodward Park.

The cost, minus the splash pad that is already funded, is $12 million.

Swimming pool

& an aquatics center

Besides converting the Marion Elliott Park baseball field into 12 lighted pickleball courts with associated parking for $6.5 million in the next one to five years, the master plan calls for replacing the existing swimming pool.

The $24.9 million replacement project would include a 25 yard by 35 meter lap pool, a recreational pool, locker building, and associated improvements.

A five acre site would be need for an aquatics facility to meet recreation and competitive swimming needs of the community and the region

A new 50 meter pool would accommodate recreational swim programs, competitive swimming, and water polo.

The center would also include a recreational pool for community use, a pool house, equipment room, and other improvements.

The aquatics center carries a price tag of $47.4 million.

Other facility improvements proposed at existing parks include:

Northgate Park

Northgate Park’s fields are heavily used and in need of major renovation so it can continue to be a hub of league soccer activity.

The fields need to be completely replaced with new irrigation, sod, and perimeter fencing. It is also recommended to renovate the two existing playgrounds and build a new, 7,000 square-foot inclusive playground within the park.  

These actions would extend the function and ensure it continues to service the community.

The cost is projected at $3.9 million

Union Park and Morezone Field

 Morenzone Field and Union Park are located near the golf course.

Currently, Morenzone Field’s singular lighted baseball softball field is underutilized and difficult to maintain. Adjacent to Union Park, the City’s Service and Maintenance Yard is at capacity and needs expansion.

A portion of the park could be converted to additional storage for the service yard, while Morenzone Field could be converted into an outdoor venue with support building and associated gardens.

 Such an event space could help generate revenue for the city

Morezone Field is accessed from Center Street.

While the conversion would have room for parking, it can also capitalize on existing parking at the golf course that is immediately to the northeast.

The estimated cost is $18.3 million.

Spreckels Park & BMX track

Manteca’s current skate park is outdated and undersized.

The location of the skate park prohibits expansion, so alternate sites will need to be considered. The open space at Spreckels Park could be one location for a new skate park.

The size and location of the new skate park would be contingent on the ability to resize the existing drainage basin, which serves the region.  That said, the consultants estimate a new skate park could be 30,000 square feet.

Recent stormwater-management projects in the area may reduce the need for the basin, allowing for a new skate park.

Spreckels Park’s adjacency to the BMX track could be synergistic with a new use like a skate park.

The estimated cost is $12.5 million

New senior center

The city needs to replace its aging Senior Center in order to continue to provide the level of service the community has grown accustomed to.

The building would provide meeting and event space, meeting rooms, restrooms, parking and all associated sitework. This facility could be built at the current Senior Center site, or on a new site elsewhere.

The estimated cost is $31.3 million.

Performing arts/Library

One of the needs identified by the community was a place for performing arts. A combined 40,000 square-foot performing arts center and library/media resource center is being proposed.

The master plan indicated it should be prioritized in the next 10 years.

The City would need to evaluate options for locating this special-use facility, but likely would need to acquire new property.

The project carries a $92.3 million price tag.

Community Center

The city is considering the construction of a new 20,000 square foot multi-use Community Center.

 The building would provide meeting and event space, meeting rooms, restrooms, parking and all associated sitework. About four acres would be required.

The City would need to evaluate potential sites for this facility, but would likely need to acquire additional property.

One possible 4 acre site that has been mentioned is adjacent to the new police station breaking ground this year on South Main Street.

The estimated cost is $23 million.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com